2007-03-27 03:26:57 · 44 answers · asked by Lorraine W 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Thumb - less likely to get lost and cause tantrums!
In my experience, all children require a comforter of sorts, what better than a thumb - its always there and won't get lost.
I've spent far too much time running around hunting for lost dummies to advocate their use!
2007-03-27 03:29:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 11⤋
I think a dummy may be a better option, because you can take away a dummy but not a thumb, I myself had a dummy until I was 2 and my sister was a thumb sucker and still is at the age of 22
my son had a dummy which he used to have til he was 3 but that was only at night my daughter on the other hand is developing a habit of sucking her fist (she is 3 months) im hoping she will use a dummy as she maks her hand sore and red
2007-03-30 12:16:43 · answer #2 · answered by Dani 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dummy. I still suck my thumb now and I don't even want to go into how old I am!
At least you can take the dummy away when the child is at an age to understand that they are too grown up to need a dummy. I need to seriously have my thumb amputated to stand any realistic chance of ever being able to kick the habit!
There is a farm by us where children can leave their dummies for the piglets - that's a nice idea and when they ask where their treasured comforters have gone at least you can remind them that the pigs have them now and they need them more than you :)
2007-03-27 05:18:58 · answer #3 · answered by franpal_2000 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I personally prefer a thumb. I don't like dummies, my son did have one but after about 3 months he pushed it away and started to suck his thumb. He only sucks it when he is tired or if he gets shy (he's 12 months). I think its easier as well because I don't have to run around looking for a dummy before we go out or make sure that he hasn't dropped it etc.
2007-03-27 05:47:42 · answer #4 · answered by chelle0980 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm guessing a dummy is a pacifier. There are really pros and cons with both. You can't take their thumb away when they get too old for it, but you also don't have to worry about them losing it or leaving it at Grandma's. Most kids I have know have their own preference and you can't really make them take one over the other. It's not really something you allow. Sucking is a reflex and and a comfort mechanism for babies, so if they are going to do it, they will whether you allow them to or not. I tried giving both of my kids pacifiers and neither one was interested in them. Luckily for me, they weren't thumb suckers so I didn't have to worry about it. My niece had a hard time giving her pacifier up though. If you don't want your kid to take a pacifier then don't ever give them one, but if they need the comfort of something to suck on, they will find it, it may be their thumb or a blanket or whatever. If your baby is crying and a pacifier will calm them down, then I see no reason not to let them have it.
2007-03-27 03:59:39 · answer #5 · answered by kat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to get your child to sooth themse;f in another way. I was always a thumb sucker(mom never gave me a dummy), and i wasnt able to kick the habbit till i was almost 19. My teeth are now severly croocked and my pallot (the ridge of bone forming the roof of you mouth) is also very high. Try to make sure your child is not too bored and let him/ her be around children there own age, they will pick up on the fact that none of the other kids are doing it and it will eventually stop. Also as the child gets older make sure you have an open relationship and be honest, insecurety is a GIGANTIC issue with thumb suckers, the more secure they a child is the less likely the are to do those sorts of things. Just be ther for him/ her. Always. If that happens then it will resolve on its own.
2007-03-27 05:54:19 · answer #6 · answered by peanut_245 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say a dummy. My daughter had one until she was just a little over three and only at night from around two and a half.
I'd always planned that the Christmas after her third birthday father Christmas would becoming for it and we would leave it out with his mince pie. I started telling her in October what was going to happen but just before Christmas she got a viral infection. We couldn't find a dummy but she was so tired she wasn't that bothered and fell to sleep without it. The next night she was a little better and decide (with a little coaxing) she didn't need it cause she was a big girl.
We haven't looked back since.
All the dummies we found on the run up to Christmas were still left out for Father Christmas!
2007-03-27 09:18:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
,I can't say I'm keen on either. Neither of my children had dummies or sucked their thumbs - maybe I was just lucky with the thumb sucking but If they needed pacifying they got attention not a dummy stuck in their mouths.
2007-03-27 06:45:45 · answer #8 · answered by Heather 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dummy (or pacifier).
1. It will not damage the teeth
2. It is easier to wean them from it - I know a girl who was still sucking her thumb as a senior in highschool!
3. Thumbs can get damaged from being wet so much, and scraping against the teeth - I know another little girl who had a constant infection on both of her thumbs from sucking them so much
2007-03-27 04:25:50 · answer #9 · answered by baby_savvy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dummy
how can you give a baby a thumb to suck you gonna shove the thumb in babies mouth then?
at least with a dummy can give it for an hour or so to comfort you cant with a thumb, and with a baby sucking their thumb there gonna cover there nose with a finger or two to get more comfort, and may suffocate,have you ever tried sucking your thumb its hard
2007-03-27 11:40:10 · answer #10 · answered by ♥♥™Tia™♥♥ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most definately a dummy. You can take it away and send it to Santa in exchange for presents or something but with a thumb u just cant stop them sucking it. My brother is nearly 10 and still loves his thumb.
2007-03-28 00:47:08 · answer #11 · answered by Smiley_1714 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋